Korean Chickpeas & Lentils

Let me tell y'all... I had a hell of a day, a couple days ago.

First, the bathroom sink backed up to high heaven, and after hours of plunging, pleading, and crying, it still wouldn't drain. I had blisters on my hands, funky water from head to toe, and nothing was working.

In desperation, I locked the bathroom door, and began to pretend that room didn't even exist.

We can pee and shower in the laundry room. No problem.

Then, I had an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meeting at the school for one of our foster kiddos. Things have been particularly tense between the special education staff and me, since I wrote a blog post about objectionable language used by the school psychologist over on TheGonzoMama.com, and the post accidentally went sort of viral. Whoops.

So, there was a lot of anxiety leading up to the meeting, on my part, and I didn't expect it to be pleasant. To top things off, Mr. Wright had got himself lost while out taking photos of some homes, and was late getting to the appointment, so I had to begin without him.

As it turns out, the meeting went pretty smoothly, but I was a hot firetrucking mess by the time I got there to start the meeting, alone.

And when we got home, the sink... well, it was still backed up, and I begged Mr. Wright to just deal with it, because I was in. no. mood.

Then, I headed into the kitchen to prepare some serious comfort food. I wanted sweet. I wanted spicy. I wanted warm. I wanted filling.

I wanted it all, and I didn't want to have to wait too long for it.

I used some basic Korean sauce recipes as a basic jumping-off point, and came up with the recipe below.

By the time it was done, all was well in the world. The issue with the sink was caused by a small toy being forced through the drain, and effectively blocking it. Life with kids... gotta love it.

Korean Chickpeas & Lentils

1 t. sesame oil
1 small onion, diced

4 c. water
1/4 c. liquid aminos
1/4 c. plus 2 T. agave nectar
2 t. sesame oil
2 t. ground ginger
3 large cloves garlic, minced
1/4 t. cayenne pepper
2 c. dried lentils

1 - 15 oz. can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained

Brown rice to serve over

Green onions and white sesame seeds for garnish.

In a large saucepan, heat one teaspoon sesame oil over medium heat.

Add diced onion, and saute until soft, tender, and beginning to brown slightly.

Add water, liquid aminos, agave nectar, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, cayenne, and lentils.

Increase heat and bring to a rolling boil.

Cover pan tightly, reduce heat, and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes, or until most of liquid is absorbed.

Stir in chickpeas, and heat thoroughly.

Serve over brown rice, and garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds.

"Like" Sexy Vegan Mama on Facebook! Don't forget to swing by The Gonzo Mama's place to see what she's up to. Get my vegan dessert cookbook (co-authored with William Maltese), Get-Real Vegan Desserts: Vegan Recipes for the Rest of Us, on Amazon!

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Gluten-Free Pizza Crust & Cashew "Cheese" Sauce

Pizza... pizza... it's like its own food group, right? And when your house is home to a bundle of kids, there's no escaping it. However, I'm always on a quest to make it healthier, more nutritious, and less processed.

Until recently, we've used Daiya Deliciously Dairy-Free "cheese" shreds for our pizzas, and I stand by them. They're awesome!

However, I've been trying to create more from-scratch ingredients, and cut down on processed foods for the kids. Daiya shreds are great time-savers, but this cashew "cheese" sauce recipe contains more protein, more iron, more fiber, and far less sodium.

Bonus: It's totally less expensive!

And... let's talk about gluten. For those of us who aren't diagnosed with celiac disease, gluten intolerance, or another gluten allergy or sensitivity... we may not see a need to eliminate or reduce our gluten intake, but for some of us with autoimmune disorders, it may be worth taking a look at.

In our house, we have family members with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Alopecia Areata -- both autoimmune disorders.

Several prominent doctors have written about the relationships between gluten and inflammation, and between inflammation and autoimmune disorders. Could it be possible that eliminating gluten could give relief to those of us suffering from autoimmune disorders? Maybe. There's still a lot of research to be done, but anecdotal evidence certainly seems to point to relief coming from a gluten-free diet.

While the doctors and scientists figure it out, let me just say it might be worth it to do a trial run for six or twelve weeks. What do we have to lose?

Anyway, that brings me to the pizza crust... I really struggle with bread-like gluten-free recipes, because I don't yet understand the chemistry of gluten-free flours, and so many recipes call for eggs to bind it all together, so I'd pretty much given up on ever finding a gluten-free pizza crust recipe my family would love.

But then, a friend of mine on Facebook talked about a "two-ingredient pizza crust" that was made with just quinoa and water. That's it. Two things. And, she said, it was delicious, chewy, and fantastic!

Well, you know me... I can rarely leave a recipe alone, so I enhanced it a bit, but the resulting crust was amaaaaaaazing!

Ready to make your own? Here we go!

Gluten-Free Pizza Crust

1 c. uncooked quinoa

1 t. garlic powder

1/2 t. dried basil

1/2 t. dried oregano

1 c. water

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Put all ingredients into a blender, and blend, pausing occasionally to scrape sides of container. Continue until a thick, spreadable paste is created.

Cover a baking sheet or pizza pan with parchment paper, and spread crust mixture over paper. Crust should be about 1/4" thick.

Bake for 12 minutes, then flip over, and bake for an additional five minutes.

Remove from oven and set aside for assembly.

Cashew "Cheese" Sauce

1 1/2 c. raw cashews, soaked for one hour

1/3 c. nutritional yeast

1 t. onion powder

1 t. minced garlic

1 t. lemon juice

3 T. stone ground mustard

3 T. apple cider vinegar

1/3 c. HOT water

Drain cashews, and put in blender with all remaining ingredients. Blend well, pausing occasionally to scrape sides of container. Continue until a thick sauce forms.

If a thinner sauce is desired, add more water until desired consistency is achieved.

This sauce is great over pasta, or served as a dip or fondue. Simply adjust the consistency to serve your needs.

You can also add in the following, to provide different flavors:

• Jalapenos (great for using in tacos, on nachos, or as a dip!)
• Sriracha sauce
• Sundried tomatoes
• Olives
• Curry powder
• Cilantro
• Basil
• Black pepper
• Cayenne
• Smoked paprika

Here's how we assemble our pizza:

• Spread cashew "cheese" sauce over the baked crust.
• Spread pizza sauce over that. (Optional. My friend doesn't use pizza sauce at all; just the cashew sauce!)
• Pile veggies/toppings on top.
• Thin out some of the cashew sauce, then drizzle it over the top.
• Bake at 425 degrees F for 15 minutes.
• Enjoy!

"Like" Sexy Vegan Mama on Facebook! Don't forget to swing by The Gonzo Mama's place to see what she's up to. Get my vegan dessert cookbook (co-authored with William Maltese), Get-Real Vegan Desserts: Vegan Recipes for the Rest of Us, on Amazon!

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Sexy Vegan Mama's Easy Falafel with Sweet Lemon Tahini Dressing

 I was born in a small town...

Actually, I was born in Seattle, which is not exactly a small town, but certain neighborhoods within it have a significant "small town" vibe.

Ballard, I'm looking at you.


Anyway, now I live in a small town. Well, small-ish. Small enough that we don't have a ton of groovy food trucks (although we DO have Rå, which is a kickass, vegan-friendly, hip little truck owned by some of the nicest people you'll ever meet) which offer up a wide variety of ethnic fare, beyond several taco wagons, which serve up such delicacies as beef tongue and whatnot.

That being the case, when I have a craving for homemade falafel, the choices are fairly limited. So, I make my own, and serve it up with a decadent, tangy lemon tahini dressing. Here's how it goes:

Sexy Vegan Mama's Easy Falafel

1 - 15 oz. can chickpeas (a.k.a. garbanzo beans), drained
large handful fresh parsley, finely chopped
juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 t. cumin
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, minced
1/4 t. black pepper
dash cayenne pepper
1/2 c. garbanzo flour

You will also need:

pastry blender or food processor
oil for frying
large, deep skillet or wok, OR a deep-fryer
a candy thermometer to check oil temperature

Finely chop the chickpeas either in a food processor or in a medium bowl with a pastry blender.

Add chopped parsley, lemon juice, cumin, minced garlic, minced onion, pepper and cayenne. Mix well.

Stir in garbanzo flour, a bit at a time, until the mixture is stiff enough to roll into a ball which does not fall apart.

Heat oil in fryer, deep skillet or wok to 350 degrees F. You will need a minimum of three inches of oil.

Do a texture test by rolling into a ball a walnut-sized scoop of the mixture, then flattening slightly into a "medallion" shape. Place the medallion into the heated oil and fry about three minutes, or until golden brown. If it falls apart, or does not hold up well to the frying, add more flour.

Roll, flatten and fry the rest of the mixture, draining on paper towels after removing from oil.

Makes about 20 falafel medallions.

Drizzle with Sweet Lemon Tahini Dressing, below.

Sweet Lemon Tahini Dressing 

juice of one lemon
1/2 c tahini
2 T agave nectar, maple syrup, or other natural sweetener
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 c. olive oil
2 T water

In a blender, combine all ingredients.

Blend until well-mixed. More or less water may be added to achieve the consistency desired.

Store any leftover dressing in a sealed container in the refrigerator.

Makes a great salad dressing, and is yummy over pasta, too!

"Like" Sexy Vegan Mama on Facebook! Don't forget to swing by The Gonzo Mama's place to see what she's up to. Get my vegan dessert cookbook (co-authored with William Maltese), Get-Real Vegan Desserts: Vegan Recipes for the Rest of Us, on Amazon!

Pineapple Habanero Cauliflower Steaks

Do you need some hot stuff? Do you need it, baby, tonight?

Maybe you, like Donna Summer (the queen of the "come hither look," by the way), are sittin' there, eatin' your heart out, waiting...

Waiting for something to eat besides your heart. Because you love your heart, and eating it just doesn't seem like a healthy way to express your love.



Know what is a good way to love your heart? Choosing foods that are heart-healthy, like cauliflower, which may have cardiovascular benefits, due to its natural ability to diminish inflammation.

While we're on the topic of healthy foods... We were, right? You weren't distracted by Donna Summer's come-hither eyes, were you? While we're on the topic of healthy foods, let's talk about the health benefits of hot peppers. Thanks to a terrifying, but awesome, component called capsaisin, eating hot peppers may actually lower your cholesterol, reduce blood pressure, fight weight gain, and even help prevent cancer.

NOTE: If habanero is too spicy for you and your crew, you can tame this recipe by substituting serrano, jalapeño, Anaheim, or even banana peppers, although the capsaicin content in these peppers is lower. 

So, let's get cooking with a "hot stuff" cauliflower recipe!

Pineapple Habanero Cauliflower Steaks

1 medium to large head cauliflower

1 1/2 c. pineapple juice
1 habanero pepper, finely chopped (Tip: Wear gloves when handling hot peppers)
1 t. liquid aminos
1/2 T. Cajun seasoning
2 T. agave syrup or natural sweetener

You will also need:

a broiler pan
a pastry or basting brush

Remove leaves and base of stem from cauliflower.

Slice about an inch off each of two sides, forming a rough rectangle of the head. This will provide you with some florets, which you can reserve for another use, or include in the marinade and broiling process, below. (Be sure to keep an eye on smaller florets, which will require less broiling time, if you use them.)

Cut into four thick "steaks" by slicing in half down the center, and then slice each half again. Again, if some florets fall apart, you can still use them.

Need help with this? See a good tutorial, here.

In a blender, whiz pineapple juice, habanero, liquid aminos, Cajun seasoning, and sweetener until smooth, with no remaining hunks of pepper.

Using a deep casserole dish, marinate the cauliflower "steaks" and chunks in the pineapple mixture for about ten minutes. This will keep the cauliflower from drying out as it broils.

Do not dispose of pineapple marinade.

Place marinated cauliflower on broiler pan, and set aside.

In a small saucepan, heat pineapple marinade over high heat until boiling, then continue to boil until liquid reduces to half or one-third its original volume, stirring frequently. The liquid should thicken as it reduces, creating a glossy glaze for basting. Remove from heat.

Broil cauliflower steaks on top oven rack for seven minutes, then turn over and broil on the other side for seven minutes.

Tip: If your oven does not have a "broil" setting, heat your oven to 500 degrees.

Remove from oven. Using a basting or pastry brush (do you know the difference?), apply half of glaze to cauliflower.

Broil for three minutes, then turn cauliflower over and apply remainder of glaze. Broil for another three minutes.

Remove from oven, and enjoy!

"Like" Sexy Vegan Mama on Facebook! Don't forget to swing by The Gonzo Mama's place to see what she's up to. Get my vegan dessert cookbook (co-authored with William Maltese), Get-Real Vegan Desserts: Vegan Recipes for the Rest of Us, on Amazon!

Gluten-Free Mango Chipotle Pasta

Mango and chipotle just go together, like... Like...

Like rama lama lama ka dinga da dinga dong
Remembered forever
As shoo-bop sha wadda wadda yippity boom de boom
Chang chang changitty chang sha-bop
That's the way it should be

Don't tell me you don't know what I'm talking about. Surely, you remember this:

Anyway, there it is. Mango and chipotle. And pasta, because I love me some pasta. I made it twice for you, so you can see the difference between using fresh tomatoes, versus canned, and a couple different types of pasta. Here's how to throw it together:

Mango Chipotle Pasta

8 oz. gluten-free pasta (I used quinoa spirals in one version, and brown rice penne in another)

2 T oil (I used avocado oil)
1 small onion, sliced
1 T agave syrup or sweetener of your choice
2-3 cloves garlic
1 medium tomato, diced (or one can diced tomatoes, drained -- I made one with fresh, one canned)
1 mango, diced
1 c. fresh or frozen peas
1/2 t. chipotle powder
1 T. balsamic vinegar

Quinoa spirals, and canned tomatoes. Glorious color on those 'maters, no?

Prepare pasta according to package ingredients.

Reserve up to one cup of starchy water from noodles before draining, and set aside.

Brown rice penne, and fresh organic tomatoes. The fresh tomatoes may not be as vibrant in color, but their flavor is awesome!

In a large skillet or deep-sided pot, heat oil over medium heat.

Add onion and sauté lightly, just until onion begins to soften.

Add agave syrup and garlic, cooking for one minute to allow onion to absorb sweetener and garlic flavor.

Add tomato and mango, tossing for about two minutes to allow natural juices from the fruits to marry into the onion garlic mixture.

Stir in peas, chipotle powder and balsamic vinegar. Allow to simmer for about one minute.

Add drained pasta to onion and mango mix, stirring to evenly distribute pasta.

As needed, add in a bit of reserved cooking water to achieve desired liquid level in sauce.

Continue to cook over medium heat until pasta is thoroughly warmed, then remove from heat and allow to stand five minutes before serving.

"Like" Sexy Vegan Mama on Facebook! Don't forget to swing by The Gonzo Mama's place to see what she's up to. Get my vegan dessert cookbook (co-authored with William Maltese), Get-Real Vegan Desserts: Vegan Recipes for the Rest of Us, on Amazon!

Stir-Fried Vegetables with Raspberry Chipotle Reduction

Even a super-creative Wonder Woman like Sexy Vegan Mama gets stuck in a rut, sometimes.

Seven kids with lives, a rockstar husband (literally), a bustling sexual health education business to run (I'm a popular girl)... Dinner has taken a backseat, and our local pizza delivery guy probably expects to be written into our wills by now. He's practically like family, at this point.

I'm tired. Let's face it... I'm pooped.



So, I put on my big girl panties, pulled myself up by my bootstraps, and decided to actually cook dinner for my family. I know -- novel idea. I even ventured to the grocery store for fresh vegetables! Red-letter date, considering how busy the summer has been.

Stir-fried veggies and brown rice are relatively easy to prepare, but my favorite spicy peanut sauce (pardon the craptastic photos at the link) has to simmer for 30 minutes after all the prep work is done. 30 minutes! Ain't nobody got time for that!

Instead, I whipped up a fantastic raspberry chipotle reduction I'd been dreaming of creating.

Raspberry Chipotle Reduction

1 1/2 c raspberries (I used frozen)
2 T natural sweetener, or to taste
2 T apple cider vinegar
1/2 T minced garlic
1-2 t chipotle powder
2 t pectin granules

Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan.

Heat over medium heat, bring to a boil, and continue to boil for 3 minutes, stirring constantly.

Sauce should reduce to less than half its original volume.

This particular recipe requires doubling for my family. We like it saucy. ;)

Oh, oh, oh...! Know what's also splendid? Toss all those ingredients in a blender, and whiz them into an awesome salad dressing!

Serve over stir-fried vegetables, and enjoy!

"Like" Sexy Vegan Mama on Facebook! Don't forget to swing by The Gonzo Mama's place to see what she's up to. Get my vegan dessert cookbook (co-authored with William Maltese), Get-Real Vegan Desserts: Vegan Recipes for the Rest of Us, on Amazon!ShareThisShareThisShareThisShareThisShareThisShareThisShareThisShareThisShareThisShareThis

Creamy Sweet Chili Pineapple Curry One-Pot Gluten-Free Pasta

I'm still loving the one-pot pasta thing, like the rest of Pinterest . After doing this recipe makeover, I was hooked! Put all your stuff into one pot, boil and stir... How easy is that?!

For this one, I was craving something a little sweet. And a little spicy. And really creamy.

Actually, I was kinda premenstrual, but I personally feel that's when the best recipes come about. (Hello, Salted Cashew Crispy Marshmallow Bites!)

Anyway, I started with the idea to make a pineapple pasta. Then, I thought, What if it was creamy, as well as fruity? Finally, I realized if I didn't add a little kick to it, I was probably going to melt into a sugary pool of vegan premenstrual sweet-creaminess. So, the spice entered the ensemble.



Here's how to get your spicy-creamy-sweet groove on, no matter what time of the month it is:

Creamy Sweet Chili Pineapple Curry One-Pot Gluten-Free Pasta

8 oz. gluten-free spaghetti-style pasta
1 - 20 oz. can pineapple chunks in their own juice, drained (save juice)
1 c. pineapple juice (drained from can)
1 c. vegan sour cream (I use Tofutti Better Than Sour Cream)
1/4 c. sweet chili sauce
1 - 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes, drained
1/2 c. fresh or frozen peas
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 zucchini, sliced lengthwise and then into 1/4" half-moons
1 1/2 c. water
1 t. curry powder
1 - 15 oz. can baby corn, drained

Tip: Spray gluten-free pasta with non-stick cooking spray or oil and roll the pasta sticks between your palms, coating the noodles, before placing in pan. This will help keep them from sticking together while they're cooking.

Put all ingredients into a deep skillet, pan, or wok. The liquid should just rise to the top of the ingredients, covering the noodles. Rearrange ingredients, if necessary. (This photo was taken before the water was added, just to show how I arranged the ingredients in the pan.)

Bring all ingredients to a boil, stirring occasionally.

Boil for about ten minutes, stirring constantly.

Let stand for ten minutes before plating, and then enjoy!

"Like" Sexy Vegan Mama on Facebook! Don't forget to swing by The Gonzo Mama's place to see what she's up to. Get my vegan dessert cookbook (co-authored with William Maltese), Get-Real Vegan Desserts: Vegan Recipes for the Rest of Us, on Amazon!

Vegan Sweet Potato "Cheesy" Shepherd's Pie with Daiya (Gluten-Free)

I may or may not have tied one on (a green one, at that) during St. Patrick's Day festivities in the past. You know, during my younger years?

These days, with work, kiddos and a schedule that makes the Marines look like wussies, a good Shepherd's Pie is as Irish as I can get on March 17th.

This is how this year's went down:

Sweet Potato Cheesy Shepherd's Pie

Mashed Sweet Potato Topping:

3 pounds sweet potatoes
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup vegan margarine
a few splashes non-dairy milk (I used cashew milk)

Filling:

2 medium turnips, peeled and diced small
1/2 medium onion, diced medium
1 cup fresh broccoli, cut into bite-sized pieces
3/4 cup fresh or frozen petite peas
1 - 15oz. can garbanzo beans
8 oz. Daiya Deliciously Dairy-Free cheddar-style cheese shreds

Sauce:

1/4 cup vegan margarine
3 T garbanzo bean flour
1/3 cup nutritional yeast
2 T oil (I used avocado oil)
1 t dried basil
1 1/2 c non-dairy milk

Sweet potato topping:

Peel sweet potatoes and dice into large chunks.

Place in a large pot, and add enough water to cover potatoes.

Bring water to a boil, and boil potatoes for about 20 minutes, or until easily pierced with a fork and tender.

(I use a stand mixer for this part.) Mash potatoes, adding minced garlic and vegan margarine.

Add non-dairy milk as necessary to make a creamy texture.

Set aside sweet potato topping.

Filling:

(I do this prep while the potatoes are boiling.) In a large bowl, combine diced turnips, onion, broccoli, peas and garbanzo beans with "cheese" shreds.

Mix well, and set aside while you're preparing sauce.

Sauce:

(Save yourself the dishes, and wash and dry your potato pot for this next part.) Over medium heat, melt 1/4 cup margarine and add garbanzo bean flour and nutritional yeast to create a roux.

Blend in oil until a smooth paste is created.

Add basil and stir.

Whisk in non-dairy milk until well-blended.

Gently increase heat and bring mixture to a boil.

Boil for about three minutes while stirring, or until sauce is thickened.

Assembly:

Pour sauce over filling and mix well.

Dump into an oiled 10" x 10" casserole dish.

Top with sweet potato topping.

Bake at 350 degrees for one hour, covering with foil for the last 30 minutes to prevent topping from burning.

Let stand for five to ten minutes before serving, and then enjoy!

"Like" Sexy Vegan Mama on Facebook! Don't forget to swing by The Gonzo Mama's place to see what she's up to. Get my vegan dessert cookbook (co-authored with William Maltese), Get-Real Vegan Desserts: Vegan Recipes for the Rest of Us, on Amazon!

Broiled Balsamic Peanut Cauliflower Steaks

I was a bartender for years, so maybe it's just business-as-usual when someone says to me, "I heard about this recipe... I don't really know what's in it, but... could you make it for me?"

Mr. Wright and I were recently on vacation in Scottsdale, Arizona (by the way, if you're in town, you've gotta try out The Herb Box for awesome service, food and atmosphere!), and while I was soaking in a colossal tub, Mr. Wright was channel-surfing -- a rare treat for him, as we don't have television.

He ran in to tell me, "Honey! I just saw this chef on some food channel make steaks out of cauliflower, and they looked AWESOME! Can you make some?"

"Well, sure... can you tell me how he did it? Did he marinate them, or brush them with anything? Did he sear them, or roast them, or grill them, or broil them?"

*blank look*

Aha! A challenge!

I have no idea what Mr. Wright saw on television, but I whipped up this little magical recipe, and it was the bomb!

Broiled Balsamic Peanut Cauliflower Steaks

4 T balsamic vinegar
2 T agave syrup
1/4 c smooth peanut butter
1/2 t garlic powder
1/2 t chili powder
1 t dried basil
1 t Sriracha sauce

1 large head of cauliflower (tightly-packed florets work best)

You will also need:

Broiler pan with grilling rack to fit on top

In a blender, combine vinegar, agave syrup, peanut butter, garlic powder, chili powder, basil and Sriracha sauce.

Blend until smooth, and pour into a large, shallow, flat-bottomed dish.

Using a large knife, slice the cauliflower into one-inch-thick "steaks," starting by slicing down the middle, then moving toward the outside in one-inch increments. Toward the edges, you may have some pieces that aren't attached to the stalk simply fall to pieces. That's okay. We'll marinate those, and broil them, too!

Place "steaks" and random pieces into sauce, allowing to marinate for about ten to fifteen minutes, then flip over, and marinate for about ten minutes on the other side.

Tip: Use a spoon or basting brush to get sauce into those little pockets that don't make contact easily.

Carefully arrange marinated "steaks" and pieces on grilling rack on top of broiler pan.

Place under broiler for three to six minutes. Be sure to watch the "steaks" as they broil, and remove from heat when the sauce just starts to develop a deep brown, toasted appearance.

Gently flip over cauliflower, and broil on the other side, following the recommendations above. Cauliflower should be tender, and easily pierced with a fork.

Remove from heat and serve hot. Pile the little random pieces around your larger "steaks," and enjoy!

This recipe works as a phenomenal main course, or you can serve it on the side, or as an appetizer, cut into smaller pieces.

"Like" Sexy Vegan Mama on Facebook! Don't forget to swing by The Gonzo Mama's place to see what she's up to. Get my vegan dessert cookbook (co-authored with William Maltese), Get-Real Vegan Desserts: Vegan Recipes for the Rest of Us, on Amazon!

NOLA On My Mind: Vegan Po'Boy Sandwiches

Last November, Mr. Wright and I found ourselves in New Orleans for a business conference. I'd been dying to try some of the local vegan fare -- which, by the way, is becoming easier to find in the Big Easy -- and we had an evening to kill.

We hitched a pedicab to Seed, which served us not only amazing Southern vegan comfort food, but the best matcha tea ever brewed this side of Tokyo.

If you go to Seed, by all means, try the Southern Fried Po'Boy. It'll knock your socks off, f'true and f'sho!

Living in Washington state, and without a NOLA trip on the horizon, I was desperate to recreate the delicious sandwich, and all I had to work with was the description:

fried tofu, light chickpea flour breading, lettuce, tomato, vegan mayo, poboy bread

Hmmmm... Okay. I'm up for a challenge!

I used this recipe from The Vedge as inspiration (notably, I froze the tofu, omitted the salt, used mustard powder in place of wet mustard, tossed in some extra seasonings, and added olive oil to the batter, which helped mine "cling" a bit better), and knocked out this delicious knockoff:

NOLA Vegan Po'Boy Sandwiches (with Gluten-Free Option)

1 - 14 oz. block extra firm tofu (not silken)

1/2 c. chickpea (garbanzo) flour
1/4 c. nutritional yeast
1 t. mustard powder
1 T. Cajun seasoning
1/2 t. garlic powder
1/2 t. ground black pepper
1/4 t. ground sage
2 T. olive oil
1/2 c. + about 1 T. water

Canola oil for frying

A deep fryer or deep skillet to fry in, and a candy thermometer to check oil temperature.

First, drain your tofu, put it into a plastic zipper bag, and freeze overnight. Do not skip this step. Freezing the tofu helps it hold its shape, encourages it to really grab onto the breading, and creates a delicious, chewy texture.

Thaw the frozen tofu, then press firmly between paper towels to remove all excess water. It may take a few pressings to achieve this, but be patient... and thorough.

Slice the tofu block into 16 equal pieces.

Heat oil to 350 degrees F, and hold at that temperature.

In a baking dish or flat-bottomed bowl, combine chickpea flour, nutritional yeast, mustard powder, Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, black pepper and sage.

Stir in olive oil and 1/2 cup water.

Check batter consistency. It should resemble a thick, pourable batter. If necessary, add water, a teaspoon at a time, to reach the appropriate consistency.

Dunk the tofu pieces into the batter, coating well on all sides.

Fry battered tofu until crispy and golden; about one or two minutes on each side.

Remove from oil and drain on paper towels.

Now, to assemble your po'boy sandwiches, you'll need:

1 baguette loaf, sliced lengthwise (use a Gluten-Free loaf, if desired)

Sliced tomatoes
Lettuce or spinach leaves
Vegan mayo

Note: I also added a delicious hummus and a few slices of leftover breaded eggplant from my Eggplant Pomodoro recipe, which can also be made with Gluten-Free breadcrumbs in place of whole wheat. Traditional po'boys come "dressed" with lettuce, tomato and mayo, so mine is rather "fancy dressed," but I'm a Northerner, so I'm pleading ignorance.

Cut that baguette into sandwich-sized lengths, slather it in vegan mayo, and pile on the greens, tomatoes and tofu nuggets.

Then, open WIDE, 'cause this sandwich is more than a delicious mouthful! Call up ya mom'n'em, too... There's plenty to go 'round!

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